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By Chukwudi Abiandu

The authorities in Nigeria have been called upon to swing into action and prevent avoidable accidents that may cause fire disaster by nipping in the bud activities of illegal bunkerers operating in Ifiekporo, in warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The illegal operations is posing a lot of danger to safety of lives and properties to communities in and around Ode-Itsekiri Road, in Ifiekporo, Warri.
Mr. Fred Olamuro, Group Head, SSE, Matrix Oil and Gas Company Limited who made the call on behalf of the company, told visiting members of the Indigenous Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) on Thursday, 8/3/2018 that observations indicate that cooked diesel and other petroleum products are being moved out by those engaged in the illicit acts.
Pointing out Matrix has as part of Corporate Social Responsibility has among other things been removing wastes generated by the illicit activities of bunkerers who cook regularly diesel, he recalled an accident that happened recently when a bunkering tanker fell spilling its content. “The situation posed serious danger to lives if Matrix Oil and Gas Company had not moved swiftly and mobilized to ensure that there was no fire out break.
He said it has become necessary for the illegal operations to be stopped so as to avoid fire disaster that would make the Jesse fire disaster a child’s play.
“The activities of these illegal bunkering is polluting the environment and polluting the people’s source of water. We have called the attention of the security agencies, the local government authirities, culminating in the visit to the area by the Warri South Local Government Chairman,” Mr. Olamuro said.
He appealed to the government to expedite action by repairing the Chiagwolor-Deeper Life junction Road that is now in a deplorable condition.
Comrade Bartholomew Ozah, Chairman of the Indigenous Correspondents Chapel commended Matrix management for being CRS savvy, and for ““consistently maintaining stability in the approved N145 per litre pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS (fuel) as well as the delivery of quality service.”.
Answering the questions, Olamuro said the secret of Matrix Oil and gas success is in the ingenuity of the company’s leadership. “The secret of our success is in the good leadership of the company,” he said.
Answering another question he pointed out that the Nigeria national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the sole importer of kerosine, adding that Matrix Oil and Gas Limited has no kerosine in its stock of products.